The 33 members of the drumline of Western’s Pride of the Mountains Marching Band had the experience of a lifetime in December when they performed during a concert headlined by country music star Keith Urban at the Bi-Lo Center in Greenville, S.C. For Urban’s national “Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy World” tour, the Australian singer-guitarist is inviting regional marching band drumlines to perform during one song during each concert stop. The WCU percussionists also performed for concertgoers as they made their way into the venue.

“This was a great event for our students,” said Matt Henley ’93 MA ’95, assistant marching band director. “It was a remarkable opportunity for these musicians to experience performing on a stage under the lights, in front of a huge crowd, with giant TV screens behind them, and to get to see the behind-the-scenes work that goes into putting on a major concert. It was truly an honor to be able to represent Western Carolina University in such an exciting venue.” It also was profitable – Urban’s tour group contributed $500 toward marching band student scholarships at WCU.